Chabonamania
Jul 11Rich Johnston linked yesterday to Michael Chabon’s rejected treatment for a Fantastic Four film, which reminded me there’s lots of awesome reading at his website for the comic nerds among us, including his rejected treatment for an X-Men film, and his love letter to Big Barda.
The latest comic based on Chabon’s The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay, The Escapists, hits shops tomorrow.
The Uncanny Ed Brubaker
Jul 11Newsarama has a good interview up with Ed Brubaker, who took over the writing reins on Uncanny X-Men as of last week’s issue. It’s good stuff–relatively self-contained, twelve issues, the potential for much space opera and X-angst–and I’m eager to see where it goes.
Now to decide if I will pick up Mike Casey’s run on X-Men, which debuts tomorrow, and seems a lot more strung up in the X-continuity…
Download SOUNDS, man
Jul 10Wired has an interesting piece up about the upswing in sales for musical instruments, even as the music industry suffers a slump they continue to blame on us evil downloading pirates, instead of the crippling absence of music that isn’t shitty. Apparently there’s some intriguing infringements on the almighty intellectual property of the music industry coming from, of all places, guitar manufacturers.
I’m always fascinated by the technology of making music, even if I rarely understand it. The section about guitar players seeking magical boxes that can make them sound like Brian May on “Bohemian Rhapsody” or Jimi Hendrix on “Purple Haze” is fascinating. I kinda see the point about how people maybe should learn how to play the sounds themselves, instead of relying on tech to make it easy. But JESUS, easy shit is COOL. And also easy.
52 Or Shatner: Week 9
Jul 07Every week, I face a lonely, difficult decision: Do I write about the latest issue of 52? Or do I post a photo of William Shatner? Truly, it is akin to how Christ must have felt as he wept blood at Gethsemane.
Click to learn which side of my brain wore out–the tiny, writerly side or the gigantic lazy side–this week.
The Countdown Begins!
Jul 06Time is flyin’ and suddenly Comic-Con is a week and a half away! Programming schedules are slowly making their way onto the official site. Lots of nifty stuff, but I feel I must especially make note of the following (both from Friday):
11:00-12:30 Star Trek: Year 41 and Counting— Thought Star Trek was dead? Yeah, they thought Spock was dead, too! But everyone’s favorite television franchise is alive and well and boldly going into the future at warp speed. Panelists from throughout the Star Trek universe will be sharing nonrumor type information, revealing exciting projects, and answering most questions will be by official representatives! Lock onto Paula Block and John Van Citters from CBS Consumer Products as they discuss future possibilities for the franchise and sneak previews of products the fans have been asking about; editors Marco Palmieri and Margaret Clark as they reveal the novel future from Pocket Books; Star Trek consultants Michael and Denise Okuda with information about the upcoming Star Trek auction at Christie’s; Sandy Stone with news from StarTrek.com; and TOKYOPOP’s Luis Reyes about the first ever Star Trek manga. Moderated by best-selling Star Trek author Andy Mangels, this will be the place to get all your Starfleet information! Room 6CDEF
My eyes were reading along, when all of a sudden…Sandy Stone?! Sandy Stone is my friend — for realz! Congrats on making the panel, Sandy! The guy is like a walking Star Trek encyclopedia, so you shall be in good hands if you attend.
2:00-3:00 SCI FI: Battlestar Galactica— “The #1 television show of 2005″—Time magazine. “One of the most original and provocative programs on television”—New York Times. “The toughest, smartest show on television”—Rolling Stone. “A wildly intense gem . . . riveting . . . not to be missed”—TV Guide. If you’re not watching it, you should be. See what the buzz is all about. Be sure to stop by the SCI FI booth for a chance to win the ultimate BSG prize packet! Panelists include stars Edward James Olmos (Admiral William Adama), Mary McDonnell (Laura Roslin), James Callis (President Gaius Baltar), and Lucy Lawless (D’Anna Biers), plus executive producers David Eick and Ronald D. Moore and SCI FI VP for original programming Erik Storey. Moderated by Lisa Chambers, features director, TV Guide. Room 20
Aaaaaaaaah. Was so hoping for this. (Was also hoping that Starbuck would be there, but I guess White Noise 2 or whatever the fuck that movie is is keeping her busy, maybe?) I love Xena’s accent in real life and I’ve heard James Callis actually sounds a little bit like Baltar (ie CRAZY), so this should be awesome.
